Dreamliner 787 comes to Hainan

Hainan Airlines Co Ltd, the fourth largest carrier in China in terms of fleet size, Sunday welcomed its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in Haikou, Hainan Province, a move to strengthen its transport capacity on international routes.

It is the second Chinese airline to fly the Boeing 787. The first was delivered to China Southern Airlines in June, and the company is projected to open routes from Guangzhou to Paris or London by the end of this year.

A total of four airlines in China have ordered the model, including 15 for Air China, 10 for Hainan Airlines, 10 for China Southern and six for Xiamen Airlines.

According to Hainan Airlines, its first 213-seat Dreamliner will serve a domestic route between Beijing and Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan Province. Once the second plane arrives, cities such as Shanghai and Chengdu will be added, followed by North American destinations such as Seattle, Toronto and Chicago.

Hainan Airlines is expected to introduce another three 787 planes this year.

"The 787 will help enhance the airline's international transportation edge," Li Xianhua, CEO of Hainan Airlines Group, said at a welcoming ceremony in Haikou Sunday.

The carrier has 124 planes in its fleet, but "there is still room for a transport capacity increase," said Liu Lu, President of Hainan Airlines Co Ltd.

According to Liu, the carrier's passenger load factor (PLF) has been higher than average in the first half of this year, although PLF growth is slowing.

"In the short term, Hainan Airlines has an oversupply in transportation capacity based on its demand, but in the future, the 787s could help it with demand brought about by the economy," saId Lin Zhijie, an independent market watcher.